The new restaurant is taking over 3685-3687 Fifth Avenue, the highly visible corner space that most recently housed Breakfast Republic, which quietly closed last year as part of a growing string of restaurant closures by Rise & Shine Hospitality Group. Before becoming a Breakfast Republic in 2021, the address spent years as The Tractor Room, the beloved neighborhood restaurant and cocktail bar that helped pioneer San Diego's early craft cocktail scene.
A recently filed liquor license application and a sign hanging outside the building confirms plans for Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar, which will become Pho Ca Dao ownership's newest venture and its first concept designed around a full-service cocktail program.
Unlike most Pho Ca Dao restaurants, which primarily focus on traditional Vietnamese cuisine with limited beer and wine offerings, Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar is expected to blend classic Vietnamese flavors with an expanded beverage program featuring handcrafted cocktails, spirits, beer, and wine in a more contemporary dining atmosphere.
Founded in 2001 by entrepreneur Thi Huynh and her family, Pho Ca Dao has quietly grown into one of San Diego's most recognizable Vietnamese restaurant brands. What began as a single restaurant serving authentic Vietnamese cuisine has expanded into multiple locations throughout San Diego County, including Mira Mesa, Mission Valley, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, and Escondido.
Unlike many restaurant groups that pursue rapid expansion through outside investment, Pho Ca Dao has grown steadily over more than two decades by building a loyal following around generous portions, traditional family recipes, and broth that simmers for hours before reaching customers' tables.
The company's name itself reflects its heritage. While "pho" refers to Vietnam's iconic noodle soup, "ca dao" references traditional Vietnamese folk poetry and songs, underscoring the family's longstanding commitment to celebrating Vietnamese culture through food.
Owner Thi Huynh has also remained active within San Diego's Vietnamese-American community, serving in leadership roles with local business and cultural organizations while helping introduce generations of San Diegans to authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
Pho Ca Dao has never been afraid to evolve. In 2022, the company attracted national attention after deploying robotic food runners at several restaurants to help address staffing shortages while maintaining traditional table service.
Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar represents another evolution for the family-owned business.
Hillcrest has long been home to brunch destinations, cocktail lounges, and diverse international restaurants, yet the neighborhood has relatively few dedicated Vietnamese concepts compared to communities such as City Heights, Convoy, Mira Mesa, and Linda Vista. The addition of a Vietnamese restaurant with a full cocktail program could help fill that gap while introducing Pho Ca Dao's cuisine to an entirely new audience.
The project also gives new life to one of Hillcrest's most recognizable restaurant spaces. Following the closure of Breakfast Republic earlier this year - part of a broader contraction by Rise & Shine Hospitality Group - the prominent Fifth Avenue corner will once again welcome diners under a completely new identity.
An opening date for Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar has not yet been announced.
Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar is preparing to open at 3685-3687 Fifth Avenue in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood. For more information, visit phocadao.com.
Founded in 2001 by entrepreneur Thi Huynh and her family, Pho Ca Dao has quietly grown into one of San Diego's most recognizable Vietnamese restaurant brands. What began as a single restaurant serving authentic Vietnamese cuisine has expanded into multiple locations throughout San Diego County, including Mira Mesa, Mission Valley, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, and Escondido.
Unlike many restaurant groups that pursue rapid expansion through outside investment, Pho Ca Dao has grown steadily over more than two decades by building a loyal following around generous portions, traditional family recipes, and broth that simmers for hours before reaching customers' tables.
The company's name itself reflects its heritage. While "pho" refers to Vietnam's iconic noodle soup, "ca dao" references traditional Vietnamese folk poetry and songs, underscoring the family's longstanding commitment to celebrating Vietnamese culture through food.
Owner Thi Huynh has also remained active within San Diego's Vietnamese-American community, serving in leadership roles with local business and cultural organizations while helping introduce generations of San Diegans to authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
Pho Ca Dao has never been afraid to evolve. In 2022, the company attracted national attention after deploying robotic food runners at several restaurants to help address staffing shortages while maintaining traditional table service.
Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar represents another evolution for the family-owned business.
Hillcrest has long been home to brunch destinations, cocktail lounges, and diverse international restaurants, yet the neighborhood has relatively few dedicated Vietnamese concepts compared to communities such as City Heights, Convoy, Mira Mesa, and Linda Vista. The addition of a Vietnamese restaurant with a full cocktail program could help fill that gap while introducing Pho Ca Dao's cuisine to an entirely new audience.
The project also gives new life to one of Hillcrest's most recognizable restaurant spaces. Following the closure of Breakfast Republic earlier this year - part of a broader contraction by Rise & Shine Hospitality Group - the prominent Fifth Avenue corner will once again welcome diners under a completely new identity.
An opening date for Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar has not yet been announced.
Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar is preparing to open at 3685-3687 Fifth Avenue in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood. For more information, visit phocadao.com.
Originally published on June 16, 2026. Information first reported by Joey Reams of WhatNow.
